Camera and equipment manuals: Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can...

Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

mariak Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico USA

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

I read every page and try out everything. I may forget how some of the little used functions work, but I will remember they exist. Besides, I like manuals if they are mostly understandable.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

Personally ...... only when absolutely necessary. I know my camera controls quite well so references to the manual are few and far between. Some elements of manuals can be confusing, especially in "the early days", and especially when you get referred from one page to another to another ad nauseam. Do photographers write the manuals? Or some engineer, office boy? Or who? I think there are many here who would say "could be done much better".

Mind you, in the months that I've been a member here I've seen so many times "read the f****** manual", or "read the manual, then re-read it, then read it again", in answer to so many questions ...... so I'm assuming those people, who appear not to enjoy answering questions from enquiring members, will respond more affirmatively than myself.

Samuraiz Loc: Central Florida

I like the PDF version. The type size used in the manual is small even with my reading glasses. I do explore every function, but only when I need it or am ready to use it.( case in point, I have not explored the Video aspects as of this date) For me it's kind of like reading a cookbook from cover to cover. I don't do that. Folks usually go to the chapter/recipe that's relevant to the moment.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I buy aftermarket books like Darrell Young's books. I find the manuals so mind numbingly boring that I fall asleep trying to read them.

Malcolm B Loc: Leicester (UK)

In answer to you question, yes I do read the camera manual, but like Pepper I also buy the books by the likes of David Busch.

However, when you get two posts, that are both on this page, (at time of writing), "Canon question" and "Problem detaching ......." where one of the posters openly admits that he cannot be bothered to read the camera manual one begins to wonder why we bother to answer such questions.

The manuals are there for our education, especially when the camera is new to us and even more especially when we are new to digital photography, and for reference when in trouble, not just to be put aside and forgotten, IMHO.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Malcolm B wrote:

In answer to you question, yes I do read the camer... (show quote)

Agree with you Malcolm. For a moment your post had me confused as I was searching for the comments you referred to "on this page". I did find them ...... but not on this page !

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

I read (look at) the manual if it includes lots of pictures. :-)

Baz

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

equipment manuals - I really like having them electronically. Quite frequently I get a question in my head that can be answered by a text search that I'd probably never even try for the answer if I had to go find the hardcopy and then find the topic.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Camera manuals have to be read. With each new iteration of a camera model the manufacturers often change how you do things. So when you go to use your new XYZ, you find that the aperture wheel is in a different place or turns the opposite way.

Having said that, camera manuals are terrible ways to learn how to use your camera. They seem to be written by technical people who are only telling you what the camera can do, not the why you might want to do this or that. Additionally, they are translated by people who don't speak Engligh/French/Spanish as a native language which has often left me scratching my head!

The best manuals are often the aftermarket ones that really do tell you the why and how not just the what.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

birdpix +1 - I was thinking much along the same lines on the absence of 'why' within the manual. The documents focus on the basics of 'how'. The more complex the topic, really the more confusing the language of the manual text tends to be (as has been my observation) ... On a related point, I was reading an AE-1 manual from the 1980s recently trying to figure how / if an old camera even operates. The text / pictures are not 1 for 1 ... but Canon has really only updated the portions that didn't exist in the AE-1 manual ...

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

first hand on camera, second hand on manual, start at page one. Any new gear same thing until I know every feature, control and menu entry.
simply no point going to a shoot and not knowing how to lock mirror, or adjust ISO or put the camera in continuous shooting mode.
Invariably someone will see the 1D MkII and ask me something about THEIR Canon.
Every time I ask the same question, "Did you read the manual" Invariably I get , "well no, not yet"

Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

Bruce with a Canon wrote:

first hand on camera, second hand on manual, start at page one. Any new gear same thing until I know every feature, control and menu entry.
simply no point going to a shoot and not knowing how to lock mirror, or adjust ISO or put the camera in continuous shooting mode.
Invariably someone will see the 1D MkII and ask me something about THEIR Canon.
Every time I ask the same question, "Did you read the manual" Invariably I get , "well no, not yet"

I get the same answers too. No I haven't but I'll get around to it. I guess it's a human tendency, Or a personality trait, or quirk. I also would bet that more than 50 percent haven't read the instructions to their home appliances, or their owners manual for their car. The only time they read them is when something goes wrong because they didn't read it and they tried to use the item improperly. What a world!

olcoach Loc: Oregon

The canon 7D manual is 275 pages including the index, while David Busch's book on the 7D is 473 pages. Busch's includes many pictures so that adds to the volume but both have so much in them that I don't see how you can possibly make the camera live up to anywhere close to it's ability without careful study. There are parts I don't look at such as video as I presently have no interest in it, but if I ever do I'll have to study it too. I readily admit that I find most of it boring, but unfortunately it's necessary. One man's opinion.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

Dlevin, I read my camera manual cover to cover more than once. I then carry it with me in my bag and refer to it every time I'm not sure on a function I don't use often.
Now my lenses, I don't even recall they came with a manual. Not much to them though.
Their is no way you will learn your camera by hands-on beyond the basic functions. They are just too complicated.
But I will admit, I've never used the video mode on my 5dll.